Display device



Nov. 12, 1946. H ON 2,410,975

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 8, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l 7 BY w M. l VNEYS J51: Hutchinson Nov. 12, 1946. .1. HUTCHINSON DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Ma 8, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITN E5 SE5 A NEYS 4 Shets-Sheet 5 DISPLAY DEVICE J. HUTCHINSON Filed May 8, 1943 Nov. 12, 1946.

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DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 8, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WITNESSES J85 Hutchinson I M A Patented Nov. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE DISPLAY DEVICE A Job Hutchinson, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Morris Pouzzner, Boston, Mass.

Application May 8, 1943', Serial No. 486,197

Claims.

1 1 This invention relates to a display apparatus or machine whereby a plurality of displays, such as curtain or sheet signs and the like, containing and. successively displayed and each for a predetermined period of time.

More particularly, the invention relates to a display. apparatus or machine ofthe character disclosed inUnited States Patents No. 2,190,426 of February 13, 1940, and No. 2,195,249 of March 26, 1940, granted to me.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in machines and devices of the indicated character whereby various advantages in general construction and operation are attained.

Another object of. these. improvements is to simplify the general assembly, adjustments, and to increase the display area by eliminating unnecessary parts.

A further object of the inventionisto provide improvements whereby a sign unit may be re.- moved and replaced easily and quickly.

. With these and other objects in view the invention .consists of the provision, construction andv operation of the parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichadvertising matter of various kinds, are severally Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatusembodying the features of the. invention, the front part of the casing being removed, and certain of the sign units being omitted for the sake of clearness.

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-.2 of. Fig. 1 and looking the direction indicated by the arrows, portionsbeing broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the left side assembly togetherwith aplurality of sign units, there being one sign unit on its way up, thus indicating how one sign member or sheet is, unwound .to be displayed while another is being rewound out of display.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view partly in section with parts :broken away showing the driving and control mechanisms and one sign roller in section Fig. 5 .is a sectionalview taken on the line 55 of Fig.4 showing the meansfor dogging or temporarily holding a sign unit in its up. position. Fig.6 is anenlarged view of the left-hand ends of. two. carriers. of respective sign units with the sign :members or sheets partly unrolled'.

7 is a sectional view taken "on the line 'I---Iv of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be apparent the apparatus or machine includes a casing' structure l0 consisting of two similar side plates Ii which form the side walls, a top wall 12, bottom wall l3, back wall I4 and front wall It having a sight or window opening I 6 therein. The walls l2l5' are attached to the side plates in any suitable manner. A support or shelf 11 in the form of a channel is disposed horizontally between the side plates H in spaced relation to the top wall I2, and the opposite ends of the shelf 1? are rigidlysecured to bosses on the plates H, as at 18. Another support or shelf 19 of channel construction is disposed horizontally between the plates in spaced, relation to the bottom wall 13, and the opposite ends of the shelf is are rigidly secured to bosses on the plates H, as at 20, and rest on flanges 2| on the plates ll respectively.

The driving power is derived by an electric back geared motor 22 mounted on the shelf I9 near the left side of the casing. A driven shaft 23 is adjustably mounted on the shelf l9 beneath the same by means as follows. Lugs 25 depend from the shelf I!) in spaced relation. Bearing elements 25 arepivotally connected at one end with the lugs 24 respectively, as at 26. A hanger 21 for each bearing element 25 is adjustably connected with the shelf l9, and its lower end is pivotallyconnected, as at 28 with a lug 29 integral with-the element 25. The shaft 23 projectsshelfhas openings to pass the chain 32. The

shaft 23 is adjustably mounted with respect to the motor shaft by virtue of the hangers 21 and this enables the proper tension to be placed on the chain 32.- The shaft 23 provides a power transmission foroperating the mechanism which ef-- fects the movement in part of the sign units: 35 along a prescribed path for the intended purpose.

It i to be understood that any suitable number of units 35 may be used and in some of the views of the drawing only a sufficient number of the units are shown to make the operation clear. These units 35 are identical in construction and operation and a description of one will suiiice for 3 a pair of guide rollers 4|, and has a lug 42 extending radially with respect to the axis of the shaft 39. Thus there are two lugs 42 for each carrier 36 and the purpose thereof will be explained hereinafter. The roller 31 is of the hade roller type but without a ratchet and its spring 43 serves for rewinding or rerolling the sign member thereon and is put under tension when the sign member is unwound. The sign member in the form of a curtain, web orsheet may be made of any suitable translucent material, such for instance, as stout paper, cloth, or other flexible sheet material on which may be imprinted or otherwise applied advertising matter of various kinds. ment by the bolsters 49 each of which provides a cylindrical portion 44.

The sign units 35 have guided movement by virtue of a closed loop guideway 45 on each of the side plates l. Each guide way is formed by spaced parallel flanges 46 integral with its plate II to provide traction surfaces for the rollers 4|. The guideway consists of two straight runs 41 and 48 respectively joined by semi-circular ends 49 and 59 respectively. The two pairs of rollers 4| of each carrier 36travel in the guideways 45 respectively and these rollers have a sufficient clearance with respect to the flanges 46 as not to bind or cause the carriers to be hung.

In order to move the sign units 35 successively one at a time along the lower semi-circular end 50 of the guideway from the straight run 48 to the front straight run 41, there is provided means as follows. A worm fast on the shaft 23 meshes with a gear 52 fast on a stub shaft 53 supported for rotation by a bearing 54 secured to and depending from the shelf l9, there being a collar 55 on the upper end of the haft 53, which in conjunction with the gear 52, hold the shaft 53 in place. A bevel gear 56 fast on the lower end of the shaft 52 meshes with a larger bevel gear 57 fast on a shaft 58 horizontally disposed below the shaft 23. The opposite ends of the shaft 58 are journalled in bearings on the side plates II respectively. The shaft 58 has its axis disposed coincident with the center from which the semi-circular portion of the guideway is struck. A pair of similar disks 59 are fast on the shaft 58 in proximity to the plates ll. Each of the disks has a plurality of notches 66 in the periphery thereof, there being ten notches 60 in the present instance in keeping with the size and number of the sign units 35 used. The notches 69 in the disks 59 cooperate with the portions 44 of the carriers 36 as the units 35 are presented by gravity one at a time from the guideway run 46 and transfer the units 35 to a point where they are picked up one at a time by means presently to be described.

The pick-up means comprises a shaft 6! adjustably mounted on the shelf I aboveLthe same v by means similar to that which supports the shaft 23; therefore, similar reference numerals will be applied to corresponding parts. The lugs 24 and parts 21 applied to shaft 6| are the reverse of the ones applied to the shaft 23. Sprockets 62 are fast on the shafts 23 and 6| and they are arranged in pairs, there being one pair at each side of the sight opening l6 and in proximity to the guideways 45. A chain 63 encircles the sprockets 62 of each pair. Each chain 63 has a special link which is provided with a lug or abutment 64 having an anti-friction roller, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. In each cycle of the chains 63 the disks 59 move one-tenth of a revolution,

The roller 31 is held against axial move- .4 so that in timed accord the lugs 64 will engage the carrier portions respectively of a sign unit 35 and cause the latter to move upwardly of the casing I9 at the window l6 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. This operation is repeated on each sign unit 35. The shelves l1 and I9 have openings to pass the chains and their lugs.

In order to cause the display of the sign member or sheet 38 of each unit 35 by unrolling the member, prior to the upward travel of the unit, the member or sheet 38 has a pull-rod 65 extending through a tunnel on the outer end thereof. The opposite ends of the rod 65 are threaded as at 66 and each of said ends carries a thumb nut 61 or the like. The ends of the pull-rod 65 are received in notches 68 respectively of the lugs 42 of the carrier 36 of the next preceding sign unit. The nuts 61 When tightened against the lugs 42 hold the rod 65 in place and the related sign member 38 connected for the unwinding or rewinding operation as may be the case. See Figs. 6 and 7.

Attention is called to the fact that the provision of the lugs 42, pull-rod 65 and nuts 61 for each sign unit 35 enables a unit to be readily removed and replaced whenever desired, easily and quickly. In this respect it is to be noted the nuts 61 may be loosened and the rod 65 disengaged from the lugs 42. The unit 35 in its entirety then may be canted or have one end raised slightly above the other end to remove the unit from the guideways 45. A unit 35 may be replaced in a reverse manner.

As each unit 35 is brought to its up position it is temporarily held therein for a predetermined period of time by a back-check means at each side of the opening l6. Said means consists of a pawl or check member 69 pivotally mounted on the shaft 6| and kept in operative position by a collar 10 fixed on the shaft and the adjacent sprocket 62. A contractile coil spring H has one end connected with the lower end of the pawl 69, as at 12, and the opposite end connected with a set screw 13' carried by a lug on the shelf [1. An upstanding stop 14 on the shelf limits the movement of the pawl 69 against the action of the spring II to its checking position as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The pawls or check members 69 cooperate with the carrier portions 44 respectively of each unit 35. As the unit moves upwardly the portions 44 cam the pawls 69 against the action of the springs II to clear the same, after which, under the reaction of the springs, the upper ends of the pawls reengage the portions 44, thereby checking the unit in the up position just as the lugs 64 clear the same.

As each of the units 35 reaches its up position it crowds the preceding units by reason of the contact of the guide rollers 4|. This causes the units to traverse the upper curved ends 49 under power transmitted by the chains 63 and their lugs 64 until the units 35 reach the down sides of said ends 49, whereupon the units drop by gravity into the vertical runs 48 of the guideways.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the slow rotation of the disks 59 causes the units 35 to be presented successively one at a time to the lugs 64 which move each unit upwardly until engaged by the back-check means 69. As a unit 35 is retained in its up position by the means 69, a second unit is being moved upwardly by the lugs 64, a third .unit will be held in its down position by the disks 59 all directly behind the sight opening I6a's indicatedin Fig. 3. Consequently, the sign member 38 of said second unit willibe rewound as the sign member 38 of said third. unit is being unwound. Thus one sign member is being rewound as one is being unwound, and this action takes place after a sign member has been displayed for a predetermined period of time.

Attention is called to the fact that by adjustably mounting the shafts 23 and BI, the chains 63 will be kept adjusted to bring their lugs 64 around at the proper time and so keep the units 35 moving periodically as required. Also the chain 32 may be adjusted slightly if necessary.

The shelves l1 and I9 serve adequately for supporting reflectors or mirrors 15 and also lighting elements such as the fluorescent tubes 16 in front of the reflectors. Thus provision is made for illuminating the sign members or sheets 38 as they are displayed. Any suitable source of voltage may be coupled to the lamps and motor.

I claim:

1. In a display sign, carriers having guided movement and each having a spring actuated sign sheet roller operatively mounted thereon, spaced lugs on each carrier between which the outer end of the sign sheet on the next succeeding carrier may be disposed, and means on said outer end to detachably engage the last mentioned sheet with said lugs, said means consisting of a pull rod on said outer end of the indicated sign sheet, and clamping members on said rod and engaged with said lugs.

2'. In a display sign, carriers having guided movement and each having a spring actuated sign sheet roller operatively mounted thereon, spaced lugs on each carrier between which the outer end of the sign sheet on the next succeeding carrier may be disposed, and means on said outer end to detachably engage the last mentioned sheet withsaid lugs, said means consisting of a pull rod on said outer end of the indicated sign sheet, the opposite ends of said rod being threaded, clamping nuts on the threaded rod ends respectively, said lugs having provision to receive the rod ends respectively, and said nuts being clampingly engageable with said lugs.

3. In a sign display device in which sign units are caused to travel in a prescribed path to display the signs of said units successively, means to move said sign units one at a time a predetermined distance, said means including a horizontal shaft; and back-check means including pawls operatively mounted on said shaft engageable with each sign unit presented thereto to temporarily hold it in the position it has been moved into by said first means.

4. In a sign display device in which sign units are caused to travel in a prescribed path to display the signs of said units successively, pick-up means to move said sign units one at a time a predetermined distance, said pick-up means including a shaft and adjustable means supporting said shaft; and back-check means including pawls pivotally mounted on said shaft engageable with each sign unit; presented thereto to temporarily hold it in the position it has been moved into by said pick-up means.

5. In a sign display device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said back-check means also includes stops to limit the movement of the pawls respectively to the checking position, and springs tomove said pawls respectively into the checking position.

JOB HUTCHINSON. 

